Michael Kaufman

Senior Lecturer at the Harvard Business School | Chappaqua, NY

Michael Kaufman is senior lecturer at the Harvard Business School where he teaches an MBA course, “Challenges and Opportunities in the Restaurant Industry.” He is a co-founder and partner of Positive Strategy LLC, a management consulting firm that advises organizations seeking to make a sustained positive impact in these profoundly changing times. Michael, formerly a partner, remains an advisor to Astor Group LLC, a boutique M&A advisory and investment firm. A nationally recognized industry leader, Michael previously led Metromedia Restaurant Group (a $1.4 billion chain restaurant company), created and successfully exited a restaurant start-up, and innovated a restaurant brand for a luxury retailer. He served as chair of the Board of the National Restaurant Association, and is currently a director of the Association, a trustee emeritus of the Association’s Educational Foundation and of The Culinary Institute of America (CIA), chair of the Business Leadership Council of Menus of Change, an executive advisor to Gryphon Investors (a San Francisco-based private equity firm), and executive vice chair of Northwell Health’s Committee on Community Health. He also served on the boards of Dessert Holdings LLC, Benihana, Inc., Culinary Concepts by Jean-Georges, the Chappaqua School Foundation (including as its president) and Northern Westchester Hospital (including as chair of its Community Health Committee). The recipient of a number of industry awards, including the Golden Chain Award and the Cecil B. Day Ethics Award, and a recognized keynote speaker, Michael is a graduate of Harvard College and Harvard Law School. (Chappaqua, NY)